Show ContentsMaber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Maber family

The surname Maber was first found in Somerset, where John le Mawere, le Mowere was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1225. Later, Robert le Mouer was listed in Kent in 1263 and John le Mawer was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. In Suffolk, the first record there was Roger le Mower who was listed in 1305 and in Cumberland Alan Mawer was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1322. 1

In the north of England, the "aw" spelling was most common. 2 1 The name Maber, like many surnames, is most likely occupational in origin; in other words, the first bearer of the name took it because it pertained to his profession.

According to legend, an "Anglo-Saxon, soon after the Norman Conquest, acquired this name (Leofric the Mower) from his having overcome twenty men with a scythe." 3

The name comes from the Old English word "mawan," meaning "to mow," so the first bearer of the name was most likely one who mowed for a living. The possibility also exists that there is another English Mower family whose name is a variation on the Irish name Moore, but this line of ancestry is rare, if it exists at all.

"Mawer was the name of a family that held much property in Winthorpe [Nottinghamshire] and in other places in the county 300 years ago. There were Mawers in Ereiston in the reign of Elizabeth I." 4

In Scotland, the name is derived from the "Gaelic maor, a subordinate officer in various capacities, a steward. The Scots pronunciation is Mawr." 5 Here the name also includes the variants Maver and Mavor. "Mavor is a Speyside surname. Wille Mawar and Johnne Mawar were declared innocent of any art in the detention of King James III in Edinburgh Castle, 1482. Walter Mawer witnessed a bond of caution in 1564. John Mawar in Urquhart was warned to appear before the Lord Regent, 1574, and David Mawer of the Loch (Lochs near Urquhart) was slain by some Inneses, 1576. " 5

Early History of the Maber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maber research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1263 and 1332 are included under the topic Early Maber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maber Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mower, Mawer, Mowery, Mawery, Mawere, Mowere and others.

Early Notables of the Maber family

More information is included under the topic Early Maber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Maber family to Ireland

Some of the Maber family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Maber migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Maber Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Maber, (b. 1813), aged 21, English Bootmaker who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Henry Tanner" on 27th June 1834, settling in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1880 6

New Zealand Maber migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Maber Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Susanna Maber, (b. 1832), aged 25, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 7
  • Mr. John Maber, (b. 1834), aged 23, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Maber (post 1700) +

  • George Maber (1869-1894), New Zealand rugby union player from Kaiapoi, New Zealand, member of the All Blacks in 1894; shortly after the match he left for Australia where he developing typhoid and died in Coolgardie, Western Australia at the age of 25


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/henry-tanner
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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